Just in case, if you’re looking for a Softimage ICE technical artist, I am available right now (15-05-2013).
Pierre Lalancette
http://www.lalancelot.com
lancelot@cgocable.ca
lalancelot@hotmail.com
But the real reason for this thread is to present you my ICE volumic tool. It is available on my site and it is FREE!
The first things you need to do is to go to my web site http://www.lalancelot.com, under “Scripts” section, and download the VOLUMIC.zip file. Into that zip file, you will find 3 other files:
Volumic_CloudPlugin.py
ICECloud_Volumic.xsicompound
Volumic_Geo.xsicompound
The first one (Volumic_CloudPlugin.py) is a python script (Oh yes! I can program in python) that you need to install into your “Plugins” folder of Softimage. Mine is located:
C:\Users\Lancelot\Autodesk\Softimage_2012\Application\Plugins
The second and third ones (BackGrid.xsicompound, ICECloud_Volumic.xsicompound) are ICE compounds that the script will use to setup the scene. They are the heart of the tool and it is imperative that you put them into your “Compounds” folder of Softimage. Mine is located:
C:\Users\Lancelot\Autodesk\Softimage_2012\Data\Compounds
After a restart, you should get a new entry in your Model/Primitive menu. Select “Volumic_Cloud”. Execute it and you’ll get a particles grid volume that can interact with collision objects.
You can adjust the resolution of the grid for a more dense cloud. You can select the grid, press Alt-9 and access its ICE Tree.
By double clicking on Volumic_Geo, you will be able to adjust the length of the rays (Distance) and how many particles each ray has (Divisions).
In the collision_group, you will be able to add and remove any geometry you want to interact with your cloud. A sphere is added on creation for example.
Then, you can use the free BackGrid script on my site (http://www.lalancelot.com) to render a volumic effect out of your cloud and get results like this:
http://vimeo.com/64935239
Or you can use the fantastic Exocortex’s Fury2 particles renderer if you have the $$$ to get it.
So, have fun. If you have any trouble, just post it here and I’ll try to help you out. Use as you wish at your own risk.
Oh! And… Did I mention that I am looking for a job right now?
http://www.lalancelot.com
lancelot@cgocable.ca
lalancelot@hotmail.com
